GetMyUni's Verdict on AMU

Parvathy Krishnakumar

“With a rich history, offering a diverse range of academic programs and a multicultural campus environment, Aligarh Muslim University is one of the renowned institutions in India. However, the lack of fruitful career opportunities makes academic excellence less worth it.”

Being one of the only institutions offering world-class education at nominal fees that is affordable to a large population of the country, being a student at Aligarh Muslim University is considered to be a blessing by all. The university is massive in terms of the courses offered, infrastructure and the overall pinnacle of academics. One of the biggest strengths of the university is the campus culture, which is a delicate balance between traditional values and modern thinking.

Established in 1920, the university has imparted quality education for over a century now through various courses. The admission process for the university is complex through entrance exams and other rounds, and hence, only deserving and intelligent students are part of the university. This contributes to the university’s smart crowd, along with highly educated faculty members.

In most cases, the students who complete their undergraduate degree program are so attached to the university and its atmosphere that they pursue their postgraduate studies at the university itself. AMU is a dream university for students who belong to economically weaker sections, as the quality of education is not compromised by the low tuition fees.

Table of Contents

• Broad Spectrum of Fields & Courses
• Highly Qualified & Dedicated Professors
• Word-Class Infrastructure
• Economical Housing Facilities
• Lively and Multicultural Campus Life
• Average Placement Records
• Final Impression of AMU

Broad Spectrum of Fields & Courses

AMU offers around 300 courses in traditional and modern fields at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. The university provides courses in various disciplines, ranging from Medicine to Law. The programs in different areas are offered through respective centres and colleges under the university. For instance, B.Tech and M.Tech programs are available at the Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology, AMU. 

All the courses available at the university are ranked high and accredited by reputed educational organisations and associations in India and internationally. NAAC has accredited around 13 departments of the university, which include Arts, Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Commerce and Law. The standard of each course at AMU is elevated by the professors and the facilities available.

Some of the most prestigious undergraduate and postgraduate courses traditionally offered by the university across different departments are as follows. Numerous specialisations are available for these programs.

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
• Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech)
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc)
• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Master of Computer Application (MCA)
• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (M.Sc)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Besides the courses mentioned above, the university is renowned for its doctoral programs in different fields. The research facilities and resources available in the university are highly beneficial for the students who intend to pursue research. Some notable areas in which various specialisations are available for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program include the following.

• Science & Technology
• Medicine & Health Sciences
• Social Sciences & Humanities
• Arts & Literature
• Business Management
• Law
• Agricultural Sciences
• Environmental Sciences
• Islamic Studies
• Interdisciplinary and Emerging Fields (Nanotechnology/Renewable Energy/Women’s Studies).

Extremely Affordable Tuition Fees

As mentioned earlier, the primary factor that makes studying at AMU more beneficial is the fact that tuition fees for the high-quality education that it provides. The nominal fee structure for courses at the university makes it more accessible to all students belonging to economically weaker families. Apart from providing good quality education at affordable fees, the university also avails students of scholarships based on their merit and other factors. 

The annual fees for bachelor’s and master’s courses vary each year based on the academic requirements. It is also different based on the residential status of the students. The first-year fees are inclusive of the admission charges and other fees.

Highly Qualified & Dedicated Professors

The best feature of the university is the highly educated set of professors for each department, who have obtained their degrees from internationally recognised universities like Oxford, Harvard, etc. They have remarkable knowledge and experience in their respective fields. Also, they are dedicated to ensuring all the students attain their full potential by providing quality education and required information to enhance their knowledge.

However, among the many qualified professors, certain teachers lack approachability and knowledge. Yet, these professors are still better than those available in the private universities in the country. 

Besides the teaching of subjects, the professors also give special care to the overall development of the students by giving them assignments, workshops and guest lectures to get more insight into their fields. This helps the students gain more information and manage their careers accordingly.

Word-Class Infrastructure

Spread over 1,155 acres of land, the university is a perfect mix of lush greenery and modern facilities. As the university was built in the early 1900s, it has beautiful, old architecture, which is a combination of Persian and British styles with historical value. The university flaunts its state-of-the-art infrastructure that contributes to the holistic development of the students.

A major attraction of the university is the library, named Maulana Azad Library, the second largest library in Asia. With over 1.5 million books, the library has a multitude of original manuscripts, a vast collection of volumes and resources that cater to all the academic needs of students from every department. The library offers round-the-clock access to students and has ample seating to accommodate large groups of students and faculties. It provides the necessary atmosphere for the students to read and study for their exams.

The university has traditional classroom setups, with old-fashioned benches and desks, along with audio-visual equipment to ensure the students have an interactive learning environment. The laboratories have the latest technology and instruments to provide a wholesome, practical learning experience. The academic infrastructure also includes seminar halls, conference rooms, and other special facilities to conduct classes, lectures and other scholarly activities. 

The university also has adequate sports facilities, which cater to the interests of students in indoor and outdoor sports. The sports complex at the university includes a gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis/badminton courts, cricket/football fields, and athletic tracks, and more.

Several canteen and food stalls are available on campus that serve good quality vegetarian and non-vegetarian food at reasonable prices. The canteens have spacious, clean seating areas where students spend their leisure time with friends.

The best fact about the university infrastructure is that the management takes special care in maintaining the facilities and the overall environment by keeping the campus clean.

Economical Housing Facilities

The university incorporates possibly the most extensive accommodation facilities in the world on its campus. All hostels at AMU have different facilities, such as standard rooms, badminton/basketball courts, reading rooms and other amenities. Despite the fact that there is an acute power shortage in Aligarh city, the university provides a 24-hour electricity supply in hostels, along with high-speed WiFi connectivity. Collectively, there are over 50 hostels for both boys and girls from different courses. 

Some of the hostels have gyms included in its building, along with the sports facilities. The hostels organise annual hall fest, sports and cultural events, providing students opportunities to perform and showcase their talents in extracurricular activities.

The hostels are segregated into halls, each with a minimum of 4 hostels. Each hall publishes tri-lingual magazines every year, which consolidate articles, poems and other literary works of the hostel inmates. This provides an opportunity for the students from different halls to share and learn more about the students. Special meals are served for special occasions and celebrations held at the hostels. 

One of the few drawbacks regarding the hostels is their food. Although timely meals are served hygienically in clean dining areas, the food items lack taste or variety. However, the compromise in food quality is compensated by the numerous facilities available. Another drawback is the waiting period for hostel admission. As there are large intakes of students across different departments, getting access to the hostel takes months or even a year.

As previously mentioned, the hostel rent is affordable. The annual fee for hostel accommodation comes up to INR 4000, exclusive of mess charges. A cost of INR 1000 to INR 1200 must be paid monthly for availing food options of the hostel. The hostel fees vary from each hall, which is allotted based on the student's courses.

The hostels have strict rules regarding curfews, and the safety of the students is ensured by the security personnel at every entrance. Additionally, there are several PGs and private hostels available around the campus with nominal rents for those students who prefer to stay outside the university compound.

Lively and Multicultural Campus Life

The university offers a vibrant and culturally diverse environment with a healthy mix of academic and extracurricular activities. Although the classes in different disciplines are conducted in separate buildings under various colleges, there is a robust inter-discipline connection with students mingling with each other freely. 

The university has a rich heritage that adds to the old-world charm of the campus infrastructure. Even though the majority of the university falls to a particular community, it has a harmonious culture with no type of indifference from any religion/community. As the tuition fees are low, students from all walks of life are part of the crowd, which helps in the exposure and real-world experience for the students.

The university has various clubs and associations for students interested in sports, music, debates, arts, drama, etc. The clubs and student committees organise cultural and sports events where students can perform sports or showcase their talents. Students can learn about the new developments in the industry and find out the career prospects of different fields through the technical fests and academic events conducted by the respective departments.

The students at the university are known to be respectful to their fellow students and for creating a friendly environment on campus. The beautiful infrastructure of the university has several areas and hangout spots where students are involved in discussions and conversations.

As there are multiple departments under the university, every department conducts separate fests, which makes the campus vibrant and active throughout the year.

Nevertheless, the location of the university and the overall culture restricts students from being liberal and open-minded. There are instances where students had to face eve-teasing and other atrocities due to the scrutiny of society. Yet, according to most students, campus life is irreplaceable.

Diversity on Campus

As mentioned above, the university has a highly diverse campus. In total, the gender ratio between boys and girls is equal. However, it is different for each course, where some have more boys than girls. All students are given equal opportunities regardless of caste, culture, gender, etc.

Dress Code

There is no uniform applicable on the AMU campus. Nonetheless, students are expected to wear formal/semi-formal clothes and abide by the dress code set by the university. As a culturally conservative institution, students must dress modestly and maintain a fundamental discipline. The dress code also varies from one department to another. For example, the Medical students must wear lab coats on campus. Students cannot wear casual clothes for classes as well.

Average Placement Records

Although the university is famous for its academic excellence and massive infrastructure, it has a poor placement scenario where less than half of the students from different courses are hired by top companies. The professors are less keen on promoting their students in placement drives. The top courses that have successful placement rates are Engineering, Medical and Management programs.

According to the past year’s placement records, only 5 students from the Science, Commerce, Engineering and Life Science departments managed to be selected by the IB Global Academy as professors. The highest salary package offered to MBA students is INR 14 LPA, and for B.Tech graduates, it is INR 21 LPA. 

Final Impression of AMU

Overall, Aligarh Muslim University is an exemplary institution with exceptional academics and facilities. The top-notch faculty members at the university ensure the overall development of the students and prepare them for their respective industries. 

The beauty of the university adds to the wholesome campus life, which includes various cultural, sports and academic activities. Although the university is based chiefly on the Muslim religion, students from other faiths are treated equally without any sort of bias or disparity from the management or the teachers. 

The pros and cons of the university are enumerated below for better understanding.

*Source: amu.ac.in and aligarh_muslim_university Instagram